San Jacinto College partners with WGU Texas

SJC students and staff guaranteed pathways into nursing

Officials from online, nonprofit university WGU Texas and San Jacinto College announced the signing of a guaranteed pathway agreement that allows San Jacinto College students and staff to receive application fee waivers and a 5% discount to pursue a bachelor’s or master’s degree in nursing at WGU Texas, according to a news release.

The Guaranteed Pathway program includes acceptance into specific WGU Texas RN-to-BSN or RN-to-MSN programs when participating in a newly established dual-admission track, built to guide a student along a specific, predeterminedprogram pathway.

The program is in addition to existing statewide transfer agreements and benefits that WGU Texas offers San Jacinto College and other Texas community colleges, through its Finish to GoFurther program.

Under the agreement, San Jacinto College graduates and staff will receive discounted tuition for up to two years toward a BSN or MSN at WGU Texas, and be eligible for nursing scholarships.

“This articulation provides an opportunity for our graduates to continue to work toward their BSN in an online format, providing for the maximum flexibility of scheduling their time,” said Serita Dickey, dean of allied health and natural sciences at San Jacinto College (North Campus), in the release. “The fact that WGU Texas has a flat-rate tuition without limits to the number of competency units to be completed in a term also is a huge advantage for our students; they can make self-selections about the number of courses to be taken.”

According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, the state is facing a shortage of 71,000 nurses by 2020. The growing complexity and responsibility of services nurses provide and the requirement for hospitals and healthcare facilities that seek or have been granted Magnet status to hire nurses with a BSN contribute to the shortage.

WGU Texas uses a competency-based learning model that allows students to work through study materials on their own schedule and advance when they can demonstrate their knowledge. This approach to learning is ideal for working adults with prior education and work experience, according to the release.